As summer fades and crisp air rolls in, fall brings more than pumpkin spice and crunchy leaves – it brings a fresh look for fashion. Gone are the shorts and tank tops; in their place come sweaters, jeans and layers that define the season’s style.
With the introduction of cooler weather, fall is a time where people look forward to exploring different clothing options. “Fall fashion” varies with different aesthetics and personal preferences. From preppy academia, to casual athleisure, autumnal outfits have something for everyone. At LSE, Y2K, athleisure and oversized are the predominant fashion aesthetics among students and can be combined interchangeably.
Lost or confused yet? No problem. It’s time to break down each look. Let’s start with Y2K. This look refers to clothing popular during the late ‘90s and early 2000s, such as low-rise or flared jeans, platform sneakers, crop tops, miniskirts and denim-on-denim looks. What does this look mean for a fall wardrobe? Think cropped sweaters, baggy jeans, cargo pants or tall boots.
Freshman Manat Abdelghani leans toward a Y2K aesthetic. She enjoys layering her clothing once fall hits, pairing black tights with a denim skirt, or even layering socks. With the mild weather during a Nebraska autumn, her wardrobe has opened up much more in comparison to other seasons, allowing her to “mix it up”.
“It’s not super cold, it’s not super hot, so you have a lot more options,” Abdelghani said. “You don’t have to dress directly by the weather.”
At the same time, athleisure has taken teenage fashion by storm and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. This look consists of casual and comfortable clothing used for both exercise and everyday wear. It could be a hoodie, leggings, sneakers or t-shirts. Athleisure is frequently combined with oversized fashion. Think comfy, cozy and casual.
Senior Amya Andelt rotates popular fashion frequently, but especially athleisure and oversized. This fall, she’s looking forward to the sweater-weather season and the fashion opportunities it brings.
“I love sweaters. They’re so iconic, they’re so warm, they’re so cute and they just really give fall,” Andelt said.
Her favorite sweaters are definitely a key player in autumn Y2K fashion, but that isn’t the only type of cornerstone piece she likes to wear during this time of year. For her, baggy clothes are a must-have for the fall. When the season of cozy and warm outfits approach, the oversized look is the perfect choice.
“This is [the] time where I can wear baggier things and a lot more jeans,” Andelt said.
On another note, social media is important in spreading seasonal fashion trends and it helps people decide what clothing they should gravitate toward. Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest especially are often used by students to look at fashion-related content. It’s not uncommon to talk to someone and find that they’ve looked on at least one of these platforms to get outfit inspiration. Andelt is no exception.
“I have a whole [Pinterest] board of just all my outfits that I like,” Andelt said.
Abdelghani uses the fashion side of social media too, particularly when it comes to discovering new outfit combinations.
“When I get a specific piece and I don’t know how to style it, I’ll look up how to,” Abdelghani said.
But no one truly follows the fall styles they see on social media to a T. Everyone expresses their sense of fashion uniquely, showcasing their individuality. It doesn’t matter if you’re into the popular Birkenstock clogs, sweaters and jeans, or prefer more unique autumn pieces; it really all comes down to one fact – the meaning of “fall fashion” is up to the individual and that’s what makes it so appealing.
